Daily Meditation: Saturday, May 2, 2015

Ageing - is inevitable for the physical body, but not for the heart

05/02/2015

Our physical body is made up of matter, and because matter is subject to time it wears out, declines and falls apart. We call this getting old, and wrinkles, white hair, rheumatism and so on are the obvious signs of this ageing. Of course, it is not a pleasant thing to observe. But we are not just a physical body, and if our body wearing out is in the natural order of things, we are not forced to age inwardly along with it. So there is really nothing to worry about. Those who get upset when they look in the mirror each day and notice the signs of ageing are generally already old inside. Instead of spending their time sustaining what is warm and alive within them – their heart – they identify with their body, with matter. But it is the heart, not the body, that dictates whether we are young or old, and if our heart grows old it is because we allow it to. In order not to grow old, we have to continue to love beings and things, to maintain our interest and curiosity for the life around us, which is always new, rich and abundant.